Turkey tells Europe: End jihadi travel to Syria

Prime Minister Erdogan suggests sharing intelligence to combat growing numbers of EU fighters

Turkey's Recep Tayyip Erdogan addresses the Turkish Parliament in Ankara on June 24, 2014. (photo credit: AFP/Adem Altan)
Turkey's Recep Tayyip Erdogan addresses the Turkish Parliament in Ankara on June 24, 2014. (photo credit: AFP/Adem Altan)

ANKARA, Turkey — Turkey’s prime minister has called on European nations to prevent jihadi fighters from travelling to Turkey to join and fight with radical groups in Syria.

In an address Tuesday to EU countries’ ambassadors, Recep Tayyip Erdogan also asked that the nations cooperate with Turkey by sharing intelligence about people who may have already reached the country.

Erdogan said Turkey has already barred some 5,300 suspected jihadi from entering the country. At least 824 other people have been deported from Turkey.

Erdogan said those fighters posed a threat to Turkey “on their arrival” and would threaten the European countries’ security “on their return.”

Thousands of Europeans are fighting in Syria, which borders Turkey.

Erdogan also urged EU countries to help his country support an estimated 1 million Syrian refugees in Turkey.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press.

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